Jurgen Klopp labels Gabriel Martinelli as ‘outstanding’ as Liverpool punish Arsenal

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp picked out Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli for praise despite the Gunners’ defeat in Thursday’s Carabao Cup semi-final, calling the Brazilian “an outstanding player”.

Martinelli was Arsenal’s most potent attacking threat on a disappointing night for Mikel Arteta’s side as Diogo Jota’s brace sent Liverpool to Wembley thanks to a 2-0 win.

The 20-year-old gave Trent Alexander-Arnold a torrid time during the first-half in particular, so much so that the visitors were forced to double-up against him after the break.

Even then, it was Martinelli who went closest to giving the Gunners a late lifeline, firing just over the bar from Bukayo Saka’s cross soon after Jota had doubled the Reds’ lead.

“Martinelli by the way, everybody should remember that name,” Klopp said. “He’s an outstanding player.”

Ultimately though, it was Jota whose contributions proved decisive, the Portuguese running away from Takehiro Tomiyasu to open the scoring, then latching onto Trent Alexander-Arnold’s pass to clinch the game 13 minutes from time.

“Jota’s first goal was outstanding and so was the second,” Alexander-Arnold said. “He is a world class player in the best form at the club so far, hopefully more goals from him. Hopefully we can win the final."